New to the world of Podding
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3172
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 7:24pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New to the world of Podding
Posted By: ReddOrion
Subject: New to the world of Podding
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 2:50pm
Hey all. My wife and I have been looking at Pods since we saw our first one up in Oregon this past Summer. We thought it would be an awesome step up from our Cabela's outfitter series 10 person tent... in recent years our tent "camping" was getting out of hand  Seemed like we were bringing everything but the kitchen sink with us.We just picked up our little 177 HRE this past Friday from the French Camp location of Pan Pacific RV (I will post a good review on them in the future). We are stoked! While not new to towing big bulky stuff behind our TV, we are both new to travel trailers. We've spent the last several days outfitting and lightly modifying (read: Fixing) some of the things in the new Pod. Good thing I'm a carpenter! The posts here kind of warned me that FR doesn't have the tightest quality control so we expected the minor stuff that we've found so far... There will be some light duty mods in the future, but for now I'm keeping us limited to LED lights and gusseting up of some of the thin plywood on the benches and bed. We're going to camp in our back yard maybe next weekend to see how it fits us and what we'll really need. Then it's off to some of the local campgrounds for some dry camp weekends. Again, we are stoked!! I've been lurking on this site for the past couple of months soaking in as much knowledge as possible. Seems like a great community with lots of good info. Happy to be part if it! Now that we're official Podders I registered as a forum member. I'll be sure to post some of our camp experiences and I know there will be questions too.... ------------- Jason & Kim 2013 RP-177 HRE 2005 Tahoe LT |
Replies:
Posted By: Ks.Kev
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 3:05pm
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Welcome and congratulations on your purchase!!!
------------- Kevin & Donna 2010 R-Pod 176 2011 Ford F150 Lariat Supercrew |
Posted By: thadd
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 4:33pm
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Welcome! Good to hear that you had a good experience at Pan Pacific. We're in Sacramento and are going to try a local place for repairs, but may have to go down to French Camp if we need something from a dealer who knows R-Pods.
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 4:39pm
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Congratulations. We are here in Portland, OR and have scheduled an RPod roundup in August 15-18th in Seaside Oregon. Love to have you join us. We are scheduled to be at Circle RV Park. Had some folks down from Wash. state just last year, and all had a wonderful time. If interested send me a private message and will fill you in further. Enjoy your new camper. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 5:01pm
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Greetings and congratulations from the other side of the country! ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 9:00pm
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You are going to have some fun times in the little pod, people looking and pointing, what is that ?, where did you get that ?, ohh you can stand up in it ?? ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 10:12pm
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Welcome!
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2013 at 12:00pm
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Welcome from the Midwest. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: LarryK
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2013 at 10:21pm
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We love our 177 HRE! You will, too. ------------- 2012 R Pod 177 2006 Toyota Tundra Access Cab 4.7 Liter V8 |
Posted By: rex
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 5:19am
Welcome to the world of podding;Happy trails to you rex pHp stuart fla ------------- jrr |
Posted By: Burt
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 11:27am
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Jason and Kim: You're just like us. We got our first POD last year, a 171 and thoroughly enjoy it. We've been out only 3 times because we got it late last year. Your mods are the perfect firsts. We changed ALL our lights to LED's right away. For storage, we found that the Home Depot "HOMER" buckets fit perfectly under the mattress area. We put tape on top to tell us what's in them. Also, used a homer bucket to put an opaque empty vinegar jug with an 18 foot led string into it, poked a hole in the homer bucket and in that configuration, it is a good porch light...looks like a pumpkin. If you pull out the vinegar jug, you have a nice bright LED string to see stuff with. LED's are the way to go. We also added a long dump tube holder on the right side to fit the RHINO tube. It's real handy placed right there. Other than some inside foo-foo stuff, it's all ready to go this year. My wife is making blackout curtains for the bedroom area and we have used the 3M stickup stuff to hang a few accessories. I'm in the process of cutting up and routing some high density plastic to put over the kitchen sink for use as a cutting board. We also found some great small plastic boxes at the Container Store that fit nicely under the sink area. They are clear enough to see what is inside them. For known camping, there's the deal in Seaside and there is also a Country music festival in Brownsville sponsored by Bi-Mart. Both are in August. When we were camping at Crow Butte, an island in the Columbia river, we had our RDOME out, the Orange Homer bucket lit up at night, sitting in the tent and had many people come by and ask us what this is and where did we get it. After that, we thought the factory should hand out a stack of brochures for us to hand out. Happy Trails Burt, Laura the White Tornado, and Buddy the Wonder Dog |
Posted By: ReddOrion
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 3:15pm
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Thanks, Burt! Couple quick questions for you if you happen back on this thread. Currently we are storing our dump tubes in a rubbermaid box in the rear storage area. The dealer set us up with the big Dominator tube. Kinda funny name, but I guess you don't really want a waste tube to be too meek! Did you mount a larger dump tube holder under your trailer frame on the right side, or where did you mean? As for your R-Dome, did you go with the button snaps to secure the front and back or just suction cups? We are going to unfold ours in the back yard in a week or two and install it for a night, and I do not want to add screw holes to the nice new exterior. We're putting some good blackout curtains in the "bedroom" as well. I don't relish the idea of having blinds above my head as we both like to read before heading to sleep. ------------- Jason & Kim 2013 RP-177 HRE 2005 Tahoe LT |
Posted By: Burt
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 6:50pm
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Greetings back to you! Good question on the sewer tube. I got the name off the original sewer tube that came with the POD. It was only about 2-1/2 feet long. It will not fit a rhino tube. The name on the tube is www.dwincorp.com and their phone is 800-255-0829. Their "super tube" size fits the rhino hose. I installed ours on the same side as the clean out fittings just forward of them with the end that opens toward the tongue. The fit was just about perfect for the 171 and I don't know about the 177 you have. The installation was easy. I found out the floor thickness, drilled appropriate fastener holes (on the RPOD site is your floor and sidewall thicknesses) and using stainless steel screws with silicone applied, I fastened them up into the side wall first, then into the floor. The Super Tube comes with ears with holes in them for the fasteners and it worked perfectly. Like you, we didn't want any septic issues inside the POD, so this was a first priority for us. This should help you get going on it and keep your POD safe from infectious material or smells. Burt |
Posted By: thadd
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 6:53pm
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I'd love to see some pictures of your installation if you have them. I've been trying to figure out the best way to put a larger sewer hose tube on my 177 and welcome any ideas. On the question of where to get the tube, I found these http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/64-inch-e-z-hose-carrier-black/60174 and they come in a variety of sizes. Once I figure out how/where to mount it I'll go ahead and get one.
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Posted By: Burt
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 6:59pm
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The RDOME question... We just use the suction cups. We haven't had it in high winds but don't think we'd put it up in high winds anyway. Most others don't use the dome unless they are out for a few days, not just one night. The Rdome is a good tent. I also suggest getting a couple of those 2 foot long surveyor stakes (Home Depot) to use as stakes. Bring along a 3 lb. hammer. Use a couple of nails though the survey string holes to hold your supports down real strong. Another bring-along that helps in the Rdome is a large enough tarp for a floor. It keeps you from tracking too much stuff into the POD. There is a you tube that shows some folks putting one up. It's kind of funny. We found that a small stepstool was a great help in sliding the fastener in the track. I used silicone spray to help it slide in the track. Before doing that, I made sure all the fasteners were in tight and wouldn't prevent stoppage. 2 people can do it easily. Don't be scared of it, just go do it. you are wise to hook up and take down all stuff in your driveway prior to going out. Suggest sleeping in it also. Happy Podding! Burt, Laura the White Tornado and Buddy the Wonder Dog |
Posted By: Burt
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 7:07pm
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Hi! My installation instructions apply to the 171 and the reply to the newbies is accurate. They also have a 177. The Dwincorp.com has the holder and if you find out the depth of the floor and hold the tube holder in place about where I put ours on the right side of the POD by the clean outs, you'll be able to size it there. It will likely fit your 177 but never having seen one, I can't be sure. Pictures of my installation therefore will show the bottom of a 171 with a tube attached on the right side. My suggestion is to call the dwincorp, or go to their website, look at the dimensions of the super tube and then measure the same area where I installed our first. Once you find out their measurements and know yours, you will be able to determine if it will fit in that area on the 177. Also, I had also made a previous post regarding this installation with the same instructions. It isn't hard and I found the only place I could put it is where I did put it. Believe me, I went through many scenarios with this of an engineering type. At one point, I was even going to modify the holder for the spare tire! None showed up as well as where I put it on the 171. If you search this site, you will find the wall and floor thicknesses. Use stainless steel fasteners and install with silicone applied. Good luck. Burt, Laura the White Tornado and Buddy the Wonder Dog |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 9:27pm
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Thadd, I looked on the end of the factory short tube and there was a www. address. I googled it, they had a 1-800 number, I called them and they make a longer tube custom made for the R Pod. It was less than $30.00 . I built brackets and mounted it toward the front of the pod across from the main frame rails. Be careful of gas lines and wiring. I would post a pix but have not been able to figure how to reduce the size to get it to post, if you cant find it email me and I will get the address for you. I really like the 15 foot hose and connections I got from camping world that fit perfectly into the larger tube. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Burt
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2013 at 11:32am
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One more comment after reading some of the others. You can likely put yours on the tongue of your POD. That area on ours was taken mostly by the double battery hookup we have there. To install it there on ours would have required moving those batteries via re-welding the holders for them. For that reason, I put it where I did. Any place outside your POD will be good. Burt, Laura the White Tornado and Buddy the Wonder Dog |
Posted By: ReddOrion
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2013 at 1:55pm
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Thanks for the info, Burt and others. It would be really nice to free up the precious storage space and keep the (un)sanitary pipes where they belong. On the outside
As for the Dome, I think we're going to stick with the suction cup solution. I don't intend to use it in extreme wind, so we'll see how it goes. The Dome will only go with us on longer trips, true. We're likely going to pick up one of the Paha Que' visors for overnight stuff. Between sun, tree fallout and/or rain, having some kind of awning wherever possible is desirable. Some friends of ours have nice setups on their large RV screen rooms. They use astro turf from the big box hardware store, and they use Mason jar lids (the flat parts only) as washers so they can stake the 'turf down. We're going to do the same in our dome, but with a layer or two of 6 mil visqueen underneath with drain holes poked in it just to keep everything as neat & clean as possible. Where we stay every Summer is very sandy and it does like to rain, hence the visqueen under the green carpet. Gotta love the Oregon coast! ------------- Jason & Kim 2013 RP-177 HRE 2005 Tahoe LT |
Posted By: danthoman
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2013 at 2:45pm
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I looked at the tube by dwincorp but their shipping was outrageous. More than the cost of the tube. What I eventually did was to buy a vinyl fence post from Lowes (~$15) and cut it several inches wider than our 177. I also bought two caps one is hinged on and one is screwed on the tube. I then attached it behind the rear tank using metal screws into the frame. Not as easy as the dwincorp tube but much cheaper and with no holes in the floor. It fits the rhino drain tube and elbow with room to spare. ------------- Linda and Dan Calley the golden retriever R-pod 177 and a Tundra 8 cyl |
Posted By: Burt
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2013 at 6:41pm
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Perfect solution! I thought of that also but needed the "ears" on the dwincorp tube to install. BTW, one more thought for something to take camping with you that will make set up and tear down easier. Take a portable electric drill and a 3/4" socket with an adapter for your drill. This will make putting down your levelers and taking them up much easier and quicker. Good solution on the tube holder. B, LWT and BWD |
Posted By: 2Poders
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2013 at 6:57pm
Welcome. It's a great time to buy and get excited for the coming year. The snow that we had is gone and it's making me want to take the pod out. ------------- Randy and Anne 2011 R-Pod 182G 2009 Highlander V6 AWD |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2013 at 10:31pm
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Snow is melted enough for me to go and sit in the Pod for a while this afternoon. Come on spring!
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: ReddOrion
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2013 at 3:25pm
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That's funny, KND. We've actually had freeze warnings the past week here in Sunny California. I'm actually considering winterizing my pod so I don't have to repair the plumbing before it's maiden voyage ------------- Jason & Kim 2013 RP-177 HRE 2005 Tahoe LT |